Ranunculus plant named &#39;ABOSHOSSI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ranunculus  cultivar named ‘ABOSHOSSI’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique combination of colors in the corolla, including green and shades of red. The petals are deeply undulating. Vase life of the cut flower is exceptionally long. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABOSHOSSI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy.The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2007.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asRanunculus ‘PPRs158-05. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietaryvariety referred to as Ranunculus ‘AB5’. The new variety was discoveredin 2010 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed byvegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selectedplant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture.First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in CamporossoMare, Italy in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ABOSHOSSI’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ABOSHOSSI’ as a new and distinct Ranunculuscultivar:

-   -   1. Unique combination of colors in the corolla, including green        and shades of red.    -   2. Rounded shape of the corolla when it is fully open.    -   3. Interesting texture to petals.    -   4. Exceptionally long vase life.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a unique flower color of green and shades        of red, the seed parent is a solid color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a different flower color than the pollen        parent.    -   2. Flower shape of the new variety is uniquely rounded, the        pollen parent flower shape is more flattened.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOSHOSSI’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Ranunculus ‘ABATLAUA’, filed concurrently. The two Ranunculusvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘ABOSHOSSI’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Combination of colors in the corolla; ‘ABOSHOSSI’ has a        corolla made up of shades of purple and green, corolla color of        ‘ABATLAUA’ is shades of purple and green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full colorflowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old,grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts. The photographs were takenusing conventional techniques and although colors may appear differentfrom actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate aspossible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘ABOSHOSSI’ plants grown in agreenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has beencultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and describedin the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions ofseason and culture, when considering the present description. By reasonof different climate or culture conditions, differences may arisebetween certain characteristics of the plant and the correspondingcharacteristics of the description. It should be considered as normaland do not modify the essence of the present invention because it willpossible to identify the plant by means of the totality of thecharacteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been plantedon raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growingtemperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C.to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normalsunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABOSHOSSI’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.        -   Root description.—Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and            are fasciculate type.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, semi-erect            vegetation.        -   Height to top flower.—50 to 55 cm.        -   Plant spread.—40 to 45 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Medium.        -   Branching characteristics.—Main floral stems grow from a            basal rosette with 1 or 2 lateral branches, each one of            which has a flower.        -   Length of lateral branches.—40 to 45 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.5 to 0.8 cm.        -   Texture of lateral branches.—Slightly tomentose.        -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together            forming a basal rosette.        -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.        -   Color of lateral branches.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B).        -   Angle of branches.—20° to 25°.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2.-   Foliage: The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked heterophyllia,    in relation to the degree of their development and their position on    the plant (base of the plant; floral stem).    -   -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Simple (young            leaf, YL); Biternate (mature leaf, ML). Average Length: 25            to 32 cm. Average Width: 15 to 20 cm. Overall Shape of            blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf).            Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection:            Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature leaves are            generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further            divided in more lobes. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded.            Attachment: Base of the plant. Margin: Dentate. Texture of            top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface:            Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top surface: Glossy.            Appearance bottom surface: Very glossy. Leaf internode            length: The internodes are extremely close together, forming            a basal rosette. Color: Young foliage upper side: Moderate            Olive Green (RHS 137A). Young foliage under side: Moderate            Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Mature foliage upper side: Moderate            Olive Green (RHS 137A). Mature foliage under side: Moderate            Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Venation: Type: Dichotomous;            plunging in to the limb at the upper surface; raised on the            limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: Strong            Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Venation color under side: Strong            Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Petiole: Petiole: Long, tubular,            rigid. Length: 15 to 20 cm. Diameter: 0.3 to 0.5 cm.            Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: Strong Yellow Green            (RHS 144B).        -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems            (sl).—Arrangement: Biternate. Average Length: 15 to 22 cm.            Average Width: 8 to 16 cm. Overall Shape of blade:            Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity            of dissection: Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of            which is further divided in many deeply incised lobes. Apex:            Acute. Base: Acute. Attachment: Floral stems. Margin:            Dentate. Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture            of bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top            surface: Glossy. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf            internode length: 5 to 7 cm. Color: foliage upper side:            Greyish Olive Green (RHS NN137A). foliage under side:            Moderate Yellow Green (RHS 137C). Venation: Type:            Dichotomous, plunging in to the limb at the upper surface            and raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation color            upper side: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Venation color            under side: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Petiole:            Petiole: Slightly flat, rigid. Length: 3 to 5 cm. Diameter:            0.4 to 0.7 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: Strong            Yellow Green (RHS 144B).-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.        -   Vase life (cut flower).—20-25 days.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.        -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 0.6            to 0.8 cm. Diameter: 1.1 to 1.6 cm. Color: Strong Yellow            Green (RHS 143A). Slightly open bud (OB): Shape: Flattened            globular. Length: 1.2 to 1.4 cm. Diameter: 2.0 to 2.3 cm.            Color: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144C); Strong Red (RHS 46A)            near the margins.        -   Flower size (of _(1.2)): Diameter: 8 to 11 cm. Height: 3 to            5 cm.        -   Corolla (of _(1.2)): Round, regular, in the form of a flat            section with slightly festooned edges.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle            in very tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite            variable, according to the position in the corolla,            decreasing from the exterior toward the center. The average            size of fully developed petal is as follows: Lobe Length: 3            to 5 cm. Lobe Width: 2.0 to 2.5 cm. Quantity: Double flower,            petals are very numerous typically 150 to 200. Texture:            Silky, thin, resistant, slightly tomentose on the lower            surface. Lobe Apex: Flat to Slightly rounded. Lobe shape:            Triangular. Margin: Crenulate. Aspect: Deeply undulating.        -   Color when opening (cf).—Upper surface: Vivid Red (RHS 45B)            at the apical margin; Brilliant Yellow Green (RHS 150B) near            the base and the lateral margin; Strong Yellow Green (RHS            144A). Lower surface: Vivid Red (RHS 45B) near the apical            margin; Brilliant Yellow Green (RHS 150B) near the base and            the lateral margin; Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Color fully opened (of).—Upper surface (PU₁): Vivid Red (RHS            45B) near the apical margin; Brilliant Greenish Yellow (RHS            6D); Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144A) at the center. Lower            surface (PL₁): Vivid Red (RHS 45B) near the apical margin;            Brilliant Greenish Yellow (RHS 6D); Strong Yellow Green (RHS            144A) at the center.        -   Other cultural improvements or features.—In this variety,            the colors of the corolla could present a lack of Red tones            and an increase of Yellow and Green tones. This is already            noticeable in the flowers that are opening and is present in            those that are wide open (OF_(2;) PU_(2.) PL₂). This            variation of color, partially typical of this variety, is            accentuated in particular growing conditions, in relation to            light exposure, to the temperature and to the different            composition of fertilizers used by the various farms.        -   Calyx to sepals (s): Quantity per flower: 6 to 10. Shape:            Concave, incurved. Length: 2.5 to 2.9 cm. Width: 0.6 to            0.8 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Flat. Margin: Entire. Texture:            Lower surface is tomentose; Upper surface is glabrous. Color            Upper Surface: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144C). Color Lower            Surface: Moderate Yellow Green (RHS 137 C).        -   Peduncle.—None.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 35 to 45 cm. Diameter: 1.1 to 1.4 cm.            Color: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144B). Orientation: Upright,            straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Reproductive organs: Androecium: Stamens: Almost completely    transformed as petals. Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short,    locked together at the center of the corolla in a Strong Yellow    Green (RHS 144B) and Dark Purple (RHS N79B), dome-shaped apocarpous    gynoecium.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.        -   Disease to pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus            has been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance            not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled            greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates            temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plantnamed ‘ABOSHOSSI’ as herein illustrated and described.